What Do You Want to Know About Headaches?

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Seven out of 10 people in the U.S. have at least one headache per year, according to the American College of Physicians (ACP). And it is estimated that 45 million Americans suffer from chronic headaches. Headaches are an important cause of days missed from work, costing billions of dollars in lost productivity annually. (ACP)

A headache is a very common condition that causes pain and
discomfort in the head, scalp, or neck. It is estimated that seven in 10
people have at least one headache each year. Headaches can sometimes be mild,
but in many cases they can cause severe pain that makes it difficult to
concentrate at work and to perform other daily activities. In fact, approximately
45 million
Americans frequently have headaches that can be disabling. Luckily, most
headaches can be managed with medication and lifestyle changes.

Types of Headaches

There are three types of headaches: tension headaches, cluster
headaches, and migraines.

Tension Headaches

Tension
headaches are the most common type of headache and occur most frequently in
women over age 20. These headaches are often described as feeling like a tight
band around the head. They are caused by a tightening of the muscles in the
neck and scalp. Poor posture and stress are contributing factors. Tension
headaches usually last for several minutes, but in some cases, they can last
for several days. They also tend to be recurrent.

Cluster Headaches

Cluster
headaches are non-throbbing headaches that cause excruciatingly severe,
burning pain on one side of the head or behind the eye and usually cause the
eyes to tear up and nasal congestion or rhinorrhea (runny nose). These
headaches can last for extended periods of time, known as the cluster period.
The cluster period can be as long as six weeks. Cluster headaches may occur
every day and more than once a day. The cause is unknown; however, this type
headache is rare and generally affects men age 20-40. According to Dr.
Stephen D. Silberstein, M.D., director of the Jefferson Headache Center at
Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, alcohol intake may trigger a
cluster headache during a cluster period.

Migraines

Migraines
are the most severe and complex type of headache. Researchers believe they may be
caused by changes in the activity of nerve pathways and brain chemicals.
Genetic factors and environmental factors are also thought to affect a person’s
susceptibility to developing migraines. They are very intense, throbbing
headaches that affect one side of the head. Migraines can also increase
sensitivity to light and noise. They may last anywhere from several hours to
several days.

Incidence and Types of Migraines

According to the Migraine
Research Foundation, nearly one out of every four households in the United
States includes someone with a migraine. Migraines are one of the top 20 most
disabling illnesses in the world.

Among adolescents, migraines are more common in boys than in
girls. Among adults, however, migraines occur more frequently in women than in
men. They are also more likely to affect those who have family members that
often experience migraines.

There are two basic types of migraine headaches: migraine with
aura and migraine without aura. Auras are visual disturbances that consist of
bright spots, flashing lights, or moving lines. In some cases, auras cause a temporary
loss of vision. These visual disturbances occur about 30 minutes before the migraine
begins and can last for 15 minutes. Migraine with aura tends to be less severe
and disabling than migraine without aura. However, most people experience
migraine without aura.

Hemiplegic
migraines are another type of migraine. These migraines are accompanied by
stroke-like symptoms, such as slurred speech and numbness or weakness on one
side of the body. Hemiplegic migraines are dangerous but very rare, affecting
only 0.03
percent of Americans.

Migraine Phases

Migraines have three phases: prodrome, peak headache, and
postdrome.

Prodrome is the period leading up to the migraine. This is the
time when auras can occur. The prodrome phase may affect concentration, mood, and
appetite. This phase may also cause frequent yawning.

Peak headache is the period when migraine symptoms become the
most severe. This phase may last for several minutes.

Postdrome is the 24-hour period after the migraine. During this
time, drowsiness can occur and mood can fluctuate between feelings of sadness
and feelings of joy.

Migraine Triggers

The exact cause of
migraines isn’t known. However, there are numerous factors that are known to
trigger the onset of migraine episodes. These include:

Dangerous Headache Symptoms

Most headaches aren’t symptoms of a life-threatening illness. However,
you should contact your doctor if a headache occurs after head trauma. You
should also call your doctor immediately if a headache is accompanied by the
following symptoms:

drowsiness

fever

vomiting

facial numbness

slurred speech

weakness in an arm or a leg

convulsions

confusion

Pressure around the eyes with a yellowish-green nasal discharge
and sore throat also should be evaluated by your doctor.

Evaluating Headaches

A headache can sometimes be a symptom of a disease or other
medical condition. A doctor may be able to determine the underlying cause of a
headache by taking a medical history and performing a physical examination.
This exam should include a complete neurological evaluation. Taking a
comprehensive history is also important, as the sudden absence of medication
and certain foods can cause recurrent headaches. For example, heavy coffee
drinkers who suddenly stop drinking coffee can experience headaches.

A doctor may also order certain diagnostic tests if they suspect
that a certain medical condition is causing the headaches. These tests might
include:

skull X-rays, an
imaging test that provides detailed pictures of the bones of the skull

sinus X-rays,
an imaging test that may be performed if sinusitis is suspected

head CT or MRI scan, an imaging test that might
be done in cases where stroke, trauma, or blood clots on the brain are
suspected

Treating Headaches

Treatment for headaches varies according to the cause. If
headaches are being caused by an illness, then it’s likely that the headaches
will go away once the underlying condition is treated. However, most headaches
aren’t symptoms of serious medical conditions and can be successfully treated
with over-the-counter medications, such as aspirin,
acetaminophen
(Tylenol), or ibuprofen
(Advil).

If medications aren’t working, there are several other remedies
that can help treat headaches:

biofeedback, which is a relaxation technique
that helps with pain management

stress management classes, which can teach you how
to cope with stress and how to relieve tension

cognitive behavioral therapy, which is a type of
talk therapy that shows you how to recognize situations that make you feel
stressed and anxious

acupuncture, which is an alternative therapy
that may reduce stress and tension by applying fine needles to specific areas
of your body

mild to moderate exercise, which can help
increase the production of certain brain chemicals that make you feel happier
and more relaxed

cold or hot therapy, which involves applying a
heating pad or ice pack to your head for five to 10 minutes multiple times a
day

taking a hot bath or shower, which can help relax
tense muscles

Preventive treatment is used when headaches occur three or more
times per month. Sumatriptan
is a drug that’s commonly prescribed for the control of migraine headaches.
Other medications that can be used to treat or prevent chronic migraine or
cluster headaches are: